Wrist-watch strap, band, or the like



y 4, 1939- J. P. SCHULTHEISS 2,155,115

WRIST-WATCH STRAP, BAND, OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 15, 1937 ZSheets-Sheet 1 1939- J. P. SCHULTHEISS 2,165,115

WRIST-WATCH STRAP, BAND, OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 min the accompanying drawings.

Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE John P. Schultheiss, Attleboro, Mass assignor to R. F. Simmons Company, a partnership consisting of Harold E.

Sweet and Hayward H.

Sweet, Attleboro, Mass. Application January15, 1937, Serial No. 120,766

1 Claim.

This invention relates to wrist-watch bracelets, bands, straps and other articles of a similar nature such as apparel belts of leather or similar readily detached when it is required to renew the leather or if it is desired to use a different F .'.Wldth or-length of strap with the chain.

Another object of the invention is to provide detachable fastening means for the chain or linkage which may be incorporated with an end member for attaching the watch to the strap or bracelet.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attaching means which may be used either with a pair of strap lengths or with a single strap in which case it forms a neat and compact means for attaching the watch to the strap.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes several preferred forms of construction of the device, by way of example, as illustrated In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a leather strap having lengths of chain attached thereto by the present improved means and adapted to be connected to :Athe lugs of a wrist-watch to provide a bracelet for the watch;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a composite perspective View showing the end portion of the strap and one of the chain lengths in detached relationship;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view in detail of the end link of the chain showing the attaching means for connection with both the strap and the watch;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the strap bracelet showing chains attached to each strap length independently of the watch;

Fig. 6 illustrates a further modified form of :',the device in which both ends of the chain sections are attached to the strap by similar means;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 'l-l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 illustrates a still further modified form not the device as comprising asin'gle stra-p'length having the watch overlying the same and the chain lengths attached to the watch at one end and to the strap at their opposite ends;

Fig. 9 is an edge view of the strap bracelet illustrated in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view in detail of the modified form of end link illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7. i

In accordance with prevailing custom, gentlemens wrist-watches are worn either with leather straps or metal bracelets attached thereto for securing them on the wrist of the wearer. Both forms of watch-bracelets have certain advantages, for example: leather straps are somewhat more flexible and less liable to bind or pinch the wrist; while, on the otherhand, metal bands or chain bracelets are more ornamental in appearance and more durable in use, although they have the disadvantage of becoming tarnished or corroded by perspiration and staining the wrist.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a watch-bracelet or strap having the advantages of both the leather strap and the metal chain or linkage without the disadvantages of either. In other words, the improved bracelet is a combined strap and chain, the strap being worn in contact with the wrist with the chain superimposed thereon and providing the ornamental feature of the assembly. In order that the chain may be quickly and readily applied to the strap the invention further contemplates'the use of novel attaching means Which are simple and inexpensive to manufacture while providing for convenient detachment of the chain when the strap becomes worn or defaced or when it is desired to employ a strap of different size or shape.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustratesa form of construction of the invention embodying two strap lengths 2 and 3 which may be of leather or similar flexible material. Attached to the end of one strap length 3 is a-buckle 4 through which the end of the other strap length 2 is passed for adjustabie connection thereto by means of a series of punched holes 5 in which the tongue 6 of the buckle is inserted. Usually, the strap lengths 2 and 3 are each composed of a length of leather folded longitudinally upon itself, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, and stitched together along the edges. Suitable loops 1 of the leather are provided for holding the end of the strap length 2' fiat againstthe top of the section 3, one of the loops being slidable to adjust it in accordance with the'length of the strap-projecting "through the-buckle 4.

The metal part for attachment to the top of the strap may be of any desired construction and, as here shown, it comprises a series of ornamental links which are made of precious metal, such as gold or silver, or plated with the same. Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the linkage or chain length [0 comprises a plurality of rectangular linksll joined by fiat loops l2 in accordance with a conventional design. As shown in Fig. 4, the links II have side bars I 3 with their outer margins of arcuate contour, and joined together by narrower crossbars I4 recessed from the top and bottom of the link. The connecting links l2 consist of flat strips of metal folded around in loop formation to straddle the crossbars M of two adjacent links to couple the links in series.

As shown in Fig. 4, one end link l5 of the chain is formed integral with, or attached to, a tubular end member l6 which serves as the means for attaching the bracelet to the watch. The end member I6 is of usual construction as employed with wrist-watches having lugs on their sides, being adapted to receive a telescopic spring-pin with pintles in its ends which project into holes in the lugs on the wrist-watch. At the opposite ends of the tubular member I6 are a pair of wire prongs l1 soldered or otherwise suitably secured thereto, or in other cases they may be made integral with the end member. The prongs ll are of angular shape extending radially from the end member l6 and bent inwardly at right-angles in the extensions l8. The ends of the prongs I! are adapted to be inserted between the opposite, overlying layers of the strap section 2 or 3, as the case may be, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, being held in the end loop or bight of the strap length indicated at l9 in Fig. 3. It will be understood that the extensions I8 of the prongs I! may be readily inserted into the end loops I9 of the strap section 2 or 3 by first inserting one prong and then bending or folding the leather strap to reduce its width so that the opposite prong may be inserted into the loop.

The opposite end link 25 of each chain section It has a crossbar 2i of slightly enlarged crosssectional dimension with a headed stud 22 projecting from its under side. The stud 22 is provided for insertion through an opening 23 in the leather strap, see Fig. 3, which is preferably of buttonhole shape. The opening 23 may be punched and then slit at one side to adapt the leather to yield to allow the head of the stud 22 to pass therethrough, after which the stud is held securely in the circular part of the opening.

It will be understood that both sections of the bracelet may have chain lengths applied thereto in the manner above described so that the chains may be readily detached therefrom for renewal of the leather when the latter becomes worn. Likewise, this novel form of attaching means provides a for convenient assembly of the parts in the manufacture of the bracelets and permits the chain sections to be detached and other chains applied in their place when it is desired to fit the bracelet to watches which have end lugs spaced at varying distances apart.

Fig. 5 of the drawings illustrates another em bodiment of the invention wherein the strap sections 25 and 26 are attached directly to the watch 21 by means of the usual telescopic spring-pins, indicated at 28, passed through the loops at the ends of the straps. The chain lengths or linkages 30 are attached to the strap sections 25 and 26 outwardly beyond the sides of the watch 21 and in the embodiment of the invention as herein illustrated both end links 20 of each chain section are provided with the headed studs 22 for insertion through buttonholes in the leather strap.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a still further modified form of construction of the device wherein the chain links are of slightly different shape. In this form of construction one end link of-each chain carries a tubular end member 3| having the prongs I! with inwardly-bent extensions l8 inserted into the end loop or bight IQ of the laminated strap sections, see Fig. '7. The opposite end link 33 also has inwardly-projecting prongs 34 formed, for example, by cutting away part ofthe end crossbar of the link. The prongs 34 are. inserted into the sides of a loop 35 of leather attached to the main strap section in any suitable manner. in Fig. '7, the loop 35 consists of a relatively narrow strip of leather folded on itself with its free ends inserted through a slit in one lamination of the strap section and stitched in place. In this latter form of construction the chain lengths may be removed by compressing the end of the strap laterally to release the prongs H from the loop I9 and similarly compressing or bending the leather loop 3!! at the opposite end to release the prongs 34.

In Figs. 8 and 9 a still further modified form of the invention is illustrated as embodying a strap 36 formed from a single strip of leather or like mate-rial folded double on itself and stitched along the edges. In this form of construction the watch 21 as well as the chain lengths, overlie the top of the strap, being attached thereto in somewhat the same manner as previously described. That is to say, one end link of each chain length 40 is formed integral with or carries a tubular end member 3'! for receiving the spring-pin 38 to attach it to the ears of the watch 21. As before described the tubular end member 37 of each chain length 40 is provided with angular prongs H with extensions l8 for insertion between the opposite layers or laminations of the strap 36. For this purpose the stitching at the edges of the strap is omitted for a certain distance to adapt the plies of leather to be spread apart to receivethe prongs l! as shown most clearly in Fig. 9. By leaving an extended length'of unstitched edge on the strap, watches of different sizes may. be

the present invention provides a novel and ingenious means for attaching metal linkages in overlying relation to the straps or bands of watch-bracelets while permitting ready detach-= ment of the metal parts when required. That is to say, the more expensive parts made of precious metal, or plated therewith, may be detached when the leather strap becomes worn and readily applied to a new strap. Likewise, chains or linkages of different designs may be applied to the straps to suit the taste of the customer when purchasing the same; and in still other cases chains with different sizes of end members may be attached to the straps to fit the bracelet to watches of varying sizes. The leather strap itself provides a comfortable bracelet adapted for ready adjustment to fit the wrist of the wearer and serving to conform thereto with a cushioning action. The metal chain lengths or linkages As shown surmounting the strap heighten the artistic appearance of the bracelet while increasing its strength and rendering it more durable in use without the disadvantage of direct contact of the metal with the wrist. The chains are therefore not liable to become corroded or tarnished by contact with perspiration so that the complete assembly of metal and leather provides a particularly ornamental and serviceable bracelet or wrist band for the purpose intended.

While the device is herein shown as embodied in several different forms of construction, it will be understood that other modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

Means for attaching a leather strap formed of superimposed plies to a wrist-watch having lugs thereon with pins extending therebetween, said means comprising tubular members for receiving the pins on the watch, and prongs on said tubular members adapted for insertion between the 10 plies of the strap to secure said members and watch in place thereon.

JOHN P. SCI-IULTHEISS. 

